Fine Trials By Palisade, Sobig

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31041, 22 April 1966, Page 5

Fine Trials By Palisade, Sobig

“The Press** Special Service HASTINGS. The overnight arrival of Sobig, main rival for Palisade in the Ormond Gold Cup on Saturday, quickened interest in yesterday morning’s final trials at Hastings.

Sobig travelled well and impressed both by his appearance as he was ridden around the centre by his trainer, G. W. B. Greene, and by his halfmile gallop on the plough. Obviously he is at peak fitness for his race and better than when he finished fourth behind Palisade, Tatua and Golden Defoe, in the Awapuni Gold Cup a feew weeks ago. Palisade which has been at Hastings since last Friday, again worked well yesterday. Several candidates for tne Dewar Gold Cup also impressed. They included Sir Barton, Shut, High Diisdain, Plush, Lucky Rebel, Fon and Elkayel. Tolka, winner of the Centennial Cup last week, was well beaten by Count Down, but her trainer, H. H. MiiHs, was unconcerned. He said afterwards that. To-lka was a bad track galloper.

fast and as the fine weather seems likely to continue—there was a light frost yesterday before bright sunshine—the going should be firmer than it was the first day. The plough yesterday was holding. On the plough Palisade (A. T. Jones) and Vigour (B. S. Dodds) galloped from the seven furlongs. Vigour, a bold galloper, soon pulled a length clear and was still out by that much on the home turn. Palisade then drew alongside him and showed him how to gallop in the run home, when he was in complete control and finished in Imin 34isec with much in hand, the last four in 53 2-ssec. Effortless Winner Tolka (Evans), an effortless winner of the Hawke’s Bay Centennial Cup and Count Down (R. Saxon) ran together from the seven. Count Down was two lengths ahead at the post in Imin 36 l-ssec.

Plush (J. T. Anderson), which had a shocking run from the top of the straight in the Centennial Cup, losing all chance, worked with Lucky Rebel (R. Grantham), a last-start winner at Tauherenikau. They ran once round in Imin 46sec, which was a useful gallop, the last five furlongs taking Imin 8 4-ssec. Both could have done better.

Carlsberg ran a smart trial for the Dewar Eleven Hundred and Royal Chase and Starlit also pleased in their final trials for this event.

Thick fog hampered timing The course proper w:as hard and